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A&E NEWS Shooting stars Flickerstick faces the reality of winning "Bands on the Run"
By Bob Finn, Boston.com, 07/14/01
When VH1’s reality TV series “Bands on the Run” wrapped up last Sunday night, the last band standing was also the unlikeliest winner. From day one the members of Flickerstick, an unsigned rock band based in Dallas, seemed more interested in living the rock-star life of sex, drugs and rock-n-roll than promoting themselves and selling merchandise - a major component of the TV game.
While their competitors worked on a variety of plans, singer Brandin Lea and his band mates Corey, Fletcher, Rex and Dominic were often filmed sleeping late into the afternoon, drinking late into the evening, entertaining groupies or fighting amongst themselves. And while not necessarily a winning strategy, their “rock” image resonated with viewers.
"We thought about editing ourselves for the camera," explains Brandin Lea during a recent phone interview. "But we decided to just let the chips fall where they may. People don't mind the fact that we were honest about being rambunctious rock-n-roll guys because that's who we are."
On the show, the band with the least amount of money got the boot every few weeks. But not before facing a “Survivor”-esque immunity challenge in the form of a battle of the bands, a face to face competition in which audience members cast votes for their favorite. Whoever had the most votes won immunity and couldn't be sent packing.
By series end, Soul Cracker, the yin to Flickerstick’s yang, had amassed the most money and looked ready to claim the grand prize. But the show’s bottom line came down to who audiences liked more. Soul Cracker’s drive, ambition, and technical ability were no match for Flickerstick’s effort on stage. In all three concert showdowns, their swirling psychedelic-pop songs and electrifying live performances connected with audience members.
The show, taped over a two month period, ended for them back in December last year. Since then, the band has been reaping the rewards. For starters the show’s grand prize was $100,000 dollars in equipment from Guitar Center and $50,000 in cash. There was also a video made for one of the band’s songs (which gets its first official airing Sunday night on VH1). But Lea says the exposure they received was the real pay off. “You can get all the equipment you want, but that’s not going to get people to see your show. The exposure has gotten us to be seen.”
“Bands on the Run,” nominated for an Emmy award for “Outstanding Non-Fiction Program" this past Thursday, is certainly helping to generate interest in the band. According to Lea, the band “will be signed [to a record label] very shortly.”
Fan interest has also been on the rise. Last year, Flickerstick was a talented regional act who made occasional trips outside of the Dallas area. Now they are mid-way through a successful nation-wide tour that includes a sold-out show at the Middle East Sunday night. Lea admits their new popularity would have been inconceivable before the show.
“We wouldn't be selling out the Wetlands in New York City for two nights in a row if it didn't help. People are just coming to see us and loving it. And we've been selling CDs by the box load at every show. It’s amazing.“
As for the “corporate” rock label Soul Cracker used to describe his band, Lea bristles at the suggestion, but says there has been no backlash to their new found fame. “All the bands that we used to talk to that were a little unsure about it have ended up becoming fans. We haven’t gotten any backlash, but even if we did, I’d just be like 'Whatever, you're either jealous or you think this business is a lot easier than it really is.’”
Flickerstick has paid at least one price for the fame and the rock-n-roll reputation. Ever since the show first aired in April, Lea says fans have been pestering the band to drink. “What's funny for us is how many people demand we do shots with them. The only problem with that is there's 23 people lined up wanting to drink with you. I know on the show we drank a lot, but that doesn't mean you can line them up and expect me to drink 30 or 40 shots a night. It's getting crazy, but everyone’s have fun.”
Lea says the band plans to continue promoting its first release “Welcoming Home The Astronauts,” before returning to the studio to cut another album. “We’ve got a lot of touring to do with this album and it's just starting to get radio play.”
For the foreseeable future Lea says he and his band mates are just going to enjoy the ride while it lasts. “This is like an endless spring break for us. It's great! It’s what we've always wanted to do - and now we're getting to do it.”
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From left to right: Dominic Weir (drums), Rex Ewing (guitar), Brandin Lea (singer), Corey Kreig (guitar), Fletcher Lea (bass). 
